O2 Academy, Bournemouth
In 1977 childhood friends Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill formed a punk band called “Johnny & The Self Abusers” in Glasgow. The band were only together for a short while but it became a huge stepping stone for Charlie and Jim who went on to form Simple Minds after recruiting Mick MacNeil on keyboards. The band have to date released sixteen studio albums and show no signs of slowing down after over 38 years together.
The band have just released “Big Music” an album that encapsulates all the best bits of the bands past with a fresh vitality that has catapulted the band back in a big way. Tonight they arrive at Bournemouth’s O2 Academy as part of a massive 29 date UK tour.
The lights go down and Ravel’s Bolero signals its Showtime. They get a massive welcome from the sold out crowd and Jim Kerr promises we have a lot of music to play for you tonight and have two sets so don’t leave after the first.
The band have clearly worked hard in keeping things fresh with plenty of reworking of older songs which includes the introduction of female musicians/vocalists Catherine Anne Davies and Sarah Brown. We are treated to rare acoustic versions of “The American” and the excellent “Home”. The first set ends on a massive high with stunning versions of “Waterfront” and “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” with the Bournemouth crowd in seemingly never ending fine voice.
The second set begins after a short 10 minute interval and the huge momentum continues with a set-list any fan would be more than happy with. There are tunes from virtually every area of the band’s career. Sarah Brown provides some incredible vocals on “Book of Brilliant Things” as well as splendid accompaniment to “Once Upon a Time” and “All the Things She Said”. The material from the new album is sounding fantastic played live and is also well recieved by the crowd.
The energy levels are kept really high right up until the end with an increase in intensity, with tunes like “Someone Somewhere in Summertime”, “Sanctify Yourself” and the huge “Alive and Kicking”. Jim Kerr is just a fantastic show man and really knows how to entertain a crowd. Even when he makes a rare mistake on the last number he stops puts his hand up and starts again.
Tonight was an astounding night of entertainment and as the crowd make their way out of the venue all you could hear is excited praise for this band who mean so much to so many.
Set-List
Intro: Ravel’s Bolero
Let the Day Begin (The Call cover)
Blindfolded
Glittering Prize
I Travel
New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)
The American (Acoustic)
Home (Acoustic)
Real Life
Honest Town
Love Song
Rivers of Ice (Vocals by Catherine A.D.)
Dolphins
Waterfront
Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Bass Line / White Hot Day 2015
Book of Brilliant Things (Vocals by Sarah Brown)
East at Easter (Vocals by Sarah Brown)
Once Upon a Time
All the Things She Said
Let There Be Love
Let It All Come Down
Someone Somewhere in Summertime
Midnight Walking
Big Music
Sanctify Yourself
Liaison
Riders On The Storm
Alive and Kicking
Videos
Words , Pictures & Videos By Dave Chinery (Chinners)
